Hi Christian, I really appreciate you sharing knowledge (and also, I'm now discovering the wonderful world of Spitfire libraries too - so thanks again). I made some notes on this video's topic, which might push someone in a slightly different direction (NOTE: I’m writing this from the perspective of someone who failed for years, but is now full time at this, and “doing well” - whatever that means. The stuff I write about below is unorthodox, but it has been a life changer for me: About financial self support outside of media composition. As a media composer, you already have some kind of recording set up. You can edit audio. You can record. A great side/main income is to create sound effects collections to sell online in one of the webstores (i.e. ASoundEffect.com). If you have a decent mic (or handheld recorder), and can record and edit at 24-bit / 96kHz, you can go through the above website and see if there is anything you can add. So many resources online for this, and your sounds can end up on films, games, TV, etc… It is totally possible to make a nice monthly / weekly or even daily income from doing this and have your sound effects on a variety of websites. Don’t know what to record? Start with light switches or door handles. Record 50 of them. Edit them. Make them tight. Put them in a folder… and you now have a collection. Add art, spreadsheet, and a title for your collection… Lots of resources online about this. Also, when you have a few collections online, you can start offering your services for music AND sound effects. And, for the really crazy ones among us: Self-produced visual media. Stop asking for jobs, and make your own. Take the time to learn some form of visual (moving) media: short films, animated pieces, documentaries, etc… If you can’t do this, think about saving some cash and hiring someone who can. Benefits: It forces you to network and make connections while composing for your own visuals. You can use this video as a calling card. It also greatly improves your understanding of composition by having a deeper understanding of all areas of production and the art and craft of storytelling. At the very least, you will have something on the web to show people. …or maybe you will sell your pilot or film to Netflix... Other random notes, based on the above video: Watch out for personal relationships: People will turn negative when they hear of your crazy goals. Good relationships can become toxic. People get jealous, worried, etc… The key is to ask yourself if this is really what you want, then focus on your aim like a laser beam. (Having said that, always treat people well and be cool ;-) Regarding the art and craft: It’s REALLY useful to look into all aspects of production and not get stuck in the film composer cage. Get some understanding of screenwriting, directing, formats, and anything else you can. It’s all useful and will help you understand and communicate with other creatives. Lastly…one possible outcome from saying ‘yes’ to everything, is that you get to find out what kind of projects you are bad at. P.S. And a question for Christian: I would love to hear your thoughts on why you moved to Scotland and what it’s actually like living there. Cheers!
THANKS FOR THIS! I've done sound design alongside music for a few games, but I've struggled to 'sell it as a core service' when there are so many talented sound designers out there working in games. Your tip on making libraries is a really good one - it'll give me a way to practice + build a portfolio.
That's funny. I've been heavily considering making my own movies for a long time now. Maybe I'm way too cocky for my own good but I feel like I'd be decent at it since I tend to criticize/dissect things I watch. Anyways, I suggest watching movie reviewers on youtube like Red Letter Media and Lessons at the Screenplay if you're something thinking of going this route. Viewing the film from the watcher's perspective really puts the music in context. Also, the more respect you have for film making, the more you'll understand and anticipate the editor/director's decisions when it comes to using your score. For example, if you actually have experience discarding entire sections of someone else's score, you'll realize how disposable your music actually is, which is an incredibly important perspective that can only be ingrained through experience.
My biggest take from my early years - When a director / producer / company shows some interest in working with you and they say "Great, send us some demos", never EVER actually send them what we may think of a demo. Send them a pretty-much fully realised, polished product. The amount of jobs I lost in my early on from cobbling together a demo and thinking they'll be impressed by how quickly I've managed to turn it around is numbing. They're never impressed by speed, they just think you're a bit shit. Great video mate!
1. Learn the rules to break them 2. Follow your heart 3. Don’t be greedy 4. Take care of your self 5. Balance what you and they want 6. Establish routine 7. Leave luck to the lazy 8. Separate production & performance 9. Practice practice practice 10. Step back and enjoy , meekly
My 10 tips to start the machine running: 1) non-exclusive music libraries are a great way to start the machine churning and making regular income that builds over time. If you’re working a dayjob, aim to write 2 library cues each week in your composing time. They don’t need to be Mahler, they just need to be good underscore for cable TV shows. 2) Take that 1 excellent library cue and make a few varied submixes of it: piano only, textures + perc, Pulses & perc, strings only, etc - and turn that 1 cue into 5 cues that an editor will be able to use throughout a show as recurring themes that fit different pacings but have the same DNA. Do this with 2 cues and you have 10 cues per week added to your own library. Stick with this for 1 year and you will have 104 solid underscore cues but a total of 520 cue-suites. Library income will eventually fill in the lean times, but it's a numbers game. More cues = more placements. 3) That cue you really like that’s at 120 bpm? Try it at 90 bpm. Then 60bpm. You may have just turned 2 cues into enough thematic material for a 30-minute TV show. If your stuff is in a library and an editor likes it, he'll click on your name in that library interface and link to all your other stuff. The editor is your best friend: make it easy for him to find your cue suites that'll give his TV show more filmic/cinematic musical glue. 4) You’ll inevitably discover a stem in that cue that will be a cool surprise: that becomes the starter for the next cue you write. 4) You’re a business, so you need to have an Accounts Receivable calendar: what you can expect to receive each month from each of your outlets: library placements, PRO royalties, Spotify/Apple/iTunes income, any music-related income that occurs regularly. 5) Metadata metadata metadata. Make sure your PRO info (title, writer, all cuesheet data) is correct. Make sure your metadata is correct for all submissions to Spotify, Apple Music & all digital streaming services. 6) Scoring a TV show like a cable doc? Offer to do the music cuesheet for them when it’s done. This job usually falls onto a PA or someone who really doesn’t want to do it: ask if you can do it so you know your timings and titles are accurate, usage types are accurate, and you can put your correct writer and CAE/IPI number in each entry to ensure that you get your performance royalties. 7) If in the US, you absolutely must register at Harry Fox and Music Reports Inc and Soundexchange to be able to collect digital streaming royalties and streaming mechanicals (slightly diff process/entities outside the US). The metadata stuff is a pain in the butt, but suck it up and just do it: a day or two of Excel pain will yield a lifetime of accurate royalty streams. 8) Get Content ID, or AdRev or Tunesat or some digital fingerprinting technology to track unlicensed uses of your music on TH-cam and Vimeo. Pursue these for license fees. Monetize the little stuff that doesn’t matter. But the important thing is that it’s **your choice** because it’s **your music.** If a business is using your music, then they owe your business a license fee. 9) If you’re not licensing-savvy, find a music library that can house your catalog - while they’re licensing it out for various opportunities, if you find unlicensed uses - or if someone finds your music and wants to license it - you can point them to the library to execute the transaction. Then you don’t have to worry about doing your own contracts, which can be daunting if you don’t have a publishing background. 10) take a collection of your favorite works, make cool cover art for it that reflects the sound of the music, and release it on iTunes/Spotify and all the digital platforms. It’ll generate some money and increase your chances of someone - an editor, a director, a producer - tripping over it and wanting to hear more. And be nice. Nice people are awesome.
As someone who works full time as a composer here are my tips along side with what Christian said: 1. As many have said look after yourself, give yourself a break. Maybe a day off a week so you don’t get into a burnout 2. Work a second job that you’d be able to maintain while growing as a composer, you still have to live. But don’t let it take over all your time. If you’re just starting out try giving yourself at least an hour a day in this, doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s learning or making sounds or just sequencing parts that you’re embarrassed to show. Every time you do it you get better. 3. Only buy objects that will help you earn money, whether it’s a synth or plugin - if you find ourself more creative with it and it will help you earn then go for it. 4. Don’t spend everything all at once, learn control and prioritizing what is needed first 5. To me, i’m more impressed if someone is able to create a brilliant mockup using stock sounds and plugins than someone who creates mediocre stuff with high end gear. Learn what you have and use it to it’s full potential, it’s about how you use things and not what you have. 6. It’s always about the picture and story, our services are to suit the media and help drive it. Don’t get in the way of dialog. 7. Learn other aspects of post production, broadcast standards, it all just makes you seem more professional and better to communicate to. 8. Learn to arrange and orchestrate well before you reach for an eq. Sometimes adding in a doubled piccolo with the violin sounds more soothing than an eq boost. Train and protect your ears. 9. Learn to mix, at the basics getting a good balance that feels good. I find most often in small productions /budgets the whole mix is taken and used as is. Make what you have as a 2 track (5.1 if you’re able to) the best it can be. 10. If you’re wanting to pursue library music, understand that every stem of the music should be able to stand up on it’s own without the other elements. That drum groove got boring after 4 bars on it’s own? Add variation, make every part interesting to listen to. A lot of times in reality tv just the stem tracks of a cue get used instead of the full mix so make them all count. This also applies to bumpers and stingers - give them options. Editors will love you.
Christian touched on production music here and and I do do recommend investigating it it thoroughly, especially if you're just starting out on your career because it's a proven long-term business strategy for composers. Production music isn't what it used to be; it's seriously high-end now. If you manage to get your feet under the table of one of the big players, the rewards can be quite astonishing, but it takes time to see the big money: Give it ten years and hundreds of tracks. It's likely that you will end up with many more hours of syncs just because the tracks are used over an over again, for years and years. Some of the biggest themes on TV are library tracks and if that happens, your mortgage payments will be covered for years! Then if a low-budget indie comes along which is a bit of a punt but looks unspeakably cool, you can do it just because you want to. The landscape is changing though and who knows what the proliferation of royalty free libraries will ultimately do to us PRO composers. I have very mixed feelings about non-PRO and would be interested to know what everyone thinks about it. Christian, is non-PRO music an interesting topic for a video? Is this a great way in for new composers, or are they selling themselves short? As for us old hacks, is it going to erode the market share we currently enjoy and what should we do to protect ourselves? Do we even need to? This is just my experience and my thoughts though. Happy to discuss!
I'd like to add something to this! Always be true to yourself and your morals. Always look after your mental health as well as your well being. As someone who wanted to work in the studio industry, I quickly learnt that it wasn't for me, after taking an internship at a Studio and basically working as a cleaner and tea boy for free, for a month in London. This honestly destroyed my self-esteem and made me never want to work in that industry again. I am now still working in the music industry but on a different side of it and am doing great. But more importantly, I am happy and confident. I just wanted to write this for all the young aspiring composers or sound engineers out there. To make it in this industry doesn't mean you have to throw all your principle out of the window. I think this industry has really started to take this piss, and force people into positions we shouldn't. Like making them clean studio's for free, even though they have a cleaner, or doing laundry or washing dishes. If you feel like you're being taken advantage of, I urge you to stop and try another avenue. Remember that above all else, your mental and physical health comes first. Sincerely, Anon
Christian, thanks for all the lovely videos you put out. And watching the new pup run around is just added joy !! 6 years ago, I left my well paying job in IT to pursue music as a full time career. Now I get to write music for films and it’s like a dream come true. So as person who has walked on/still walking this path, watching your videos and hearing you say stuff often brings a smile on my face, coz I know how true they are. I know you speak from your heart. Your advises are as sound as they can be. I don’t know how you manage to make all these videos in your schedule, but thank you for making them. Much Love!! Cheers ✌️😊
Hey Christian, could i get you some tea? Seriously though, your passion about the things you speak of (this video or any other) is incredibly inspiring, and when ever I can't quite find the way in a song I'm working on, I'll watch a video or two by you and get right back in it. And if you ever need someone to bring you tea, even if it's only for a day, I would step on a plane and fly right over, even if it meant hiding in a corner somewhere until you want a refill. Thanks for the videos, as always.
I love the new pup. A penchant for camera pushing! Having these thought-a-logs are really good. I recently told one of your colleagues at the Kepler launch that your video on How to Program realistic strings is what reignited my passion for composing after about a 5 year hiatus of not composing anything and essentially, giving up. I would say being proactive and ready to jump on something is key, not only saying yes to stuff but being willing and confident. Importantly, do it for yourself if it makes you happy. And don’t give up.
Thanks Christian, listening to you share your thoughts through each video has helped me through a 'low' patch in my composer's journey. I'd suggest to any aspiring creative (composer, film maker, photographer, etc.): - Remove distractions from your life: either on a personal level, or from a technology perspective (games consoles, unnecessary notifications and even TH-cam...) - Keep focused: a lot of the people surrounding you may not understand what you are going through. Friends and family are a great support network but many will not emphasise with a atypical non-9-to-5 working life. So keep at it, even if people tell you to get a 'real job'. - Love what you do: this is key to creating content that will stand the test of time. - Don't give up: as Christian repeatedly states, outwork those around you. After a year out of studying, many people will have switched their goals in life. Make sure you are the one that is still making content, be that music, film, graphics or photography.
Absolutely bloody fantastic! Every young and aspiring musician should see this. I suddenly wish I was 20 years younger... But I’m not, and at the same time it’s never too late :D Thank you!
A fantastic list, and I agree with all points. I would simply add that you should always try and remember your "true north" - the deep, purpose-based reason why you do this work. It can't be accolades or premieres or recognition or money, because these will forever fall short of most expectations. The only thing that will get you through the tough times and the crushing self-doubt and the years of struggle (FAR past the moment where you feel you "paid your dues") and the rejection is your LOVE of what you DO. The magic of discovering what music makes a scene truly sing, or getting "inside" the film, or an amazing conversation with a director that leaves you stupid with excitement to begin a new score. Everything else will fail you, but this must endure.
Hi Christian. Thank you for this. I’m substituting the references to composers and music business and using this as the best guidance for life I’ve heard in years. You’re a legend and an inspiration. Thanks.
Thank you for these advices. If it was easy, it would not be worth it. And these views around you are just beautiful, guess a good source for inspiration and to clear the mind.
This information is completely spot on accurate! I love your incite, the absolutely pure honesty spoken and your willingness to share the real bumps on the journey because those who travel the road of music know it’s full of holes. Saying No is a perfect sign that you have reached a greater plateau.
Great life lessons Christian! Important and true for whatever you’re trying to achieve in life. It is not about the result, but it is all about the way/process to get to the result. Simply embrace it and enjoy it as much as you can. Life is too beautiful and too short to experience it with blinkers on.
Just stopped in the middle of a scoring session, first cue for my First feature film (72 mins) payed gig (kind of) and luckily i got hit by this new precious material. time to start saying no, Christian once again you work as a boost to keep it up. And as a contribution and start of a debate line: LA, LONDON, BERLIN,NY (at some level) have you though about starting a discussion / research and de - mythifying of the actual networking hubs for media composition? i was born in Chile, by now i live in Berlin. i have known people? yes. i have a shitty ryanair to London's stanted for 30 euro, also yes. but what about other developing markets and media capitals? (Mexico: alfonso cuaron, alejandro gonzález iñiarritu, guillermo del toro) Argentina, Chile (pablo larrain (jackie-mica levi) Sebastian Lelio (a fantastic woman, Gloria Bell, Disobedience- Mathew Herbert)? the south american market it's full of emerging surprises... Ok, im back to work. as always, these videos are the best breakfasts. big thanks!
I'd like to add: Be a nice person to go have a beer with. Working with people in a creative field is not unlike having friendships. Creativity is hugely personal, and people are looking for creatives they can trust with getting that personal with. Who'd wanna show you their movie or game to work on if you're judgemental as all hell?
Inspirational as ever Christian- Thanks 9:02 - Is really all you really need, along with your ears and imagination. As for top ten list, I think four will do (with an aside) 1 - Focus on meeting people and networking, then keep doing it. 2 - Make everything you produce sound very very good. 2 - The size of your plugin folder doesn't matter. (I'm one of the older seasoned professionals (bassist) starting over (again) and I am in the same place any fresh graduate is starting from - and the game is just as fresh and exciting as it was when I was a teenager) 4 - Build character, identity, personality with your work, however you call it, what makes you, you.
Total newbie here, but these are just 10 quick things for myself that I’ll share. I’m sure these will change a lot! 1) Above all else don’t sacrifice the joy of creation for the “idea” of success. It’s better to never “make it” but have gotten huge amounts of joy from music in life 2) Don’t chase someone else’s sound or aesthetic, it has already been done, even if that means a modicum of short term success 3) RE point 1, include my loved ones. Everything is transient and time is fleeting. I would rather have fond memories of my kids playing at the park, rather than pleasing someone by addressing cue notes 4) No matter what, always be humble about what you’ve done and your perceived status by others 5) Always speak about people as if they were standing behind you, no matter how annoyed you are at them 6) Never be Snobby and don’t assume your opinion is wanted 7) Be a vehicle to help other people realise their dreams 8) Being reliable and trustworthy to deliver is always better than making the best sounding music 9) Care about other people’s projects and helping their journey, not just the part you see yourself playing, if there’s a gap you can fill, put your hand up 10) In opposition to 9, don’t overcommit or dilute your offering. Protect your brand!
Also.. it’s all been done before, so don’t second guess everything for fear of reinventing the wheel or copying someone, we are after all, all the product of our influences....enjoy your gift and try to always have fun!
Love this SO much! I can’t thank you enough for always answering the real questions we have with such sobering answers. It’s extremely important to keep the main things the main things and to really see before you what it will cost to accomplish something in media composition, as in life. On another note, Christian I’m gonna be in your area (Livingston, right outside of Edinburgh) all next week and would love to buy you a pint and chat about life. I know you’re crazy busy but hit me up if you can. Thanks again for all that you do!
Berklee will give you the connections you wouldn’t have a chance finding on your own. Majority get the dream job far before they graduate. A large amount don’t even finish.
As always, really useful advice.. In our own personal journey that just seems to be finding its way, there were many times when your words came to mind, and I remember commenting in the past that even if we are not on the exact same point of interest, your videos always feature hints that are more that helpful within a wider spectrum of arts and media industry, even beyond these! So, thanks once more Christian :)
Can't thank you enough for this advice and for initiating some great discussions in the comments. I think I might listen to this every morning as a sort of affirmation. Truly inspiring. You really should do radio...podcasts? Maybe you already do, I salute you sir, thanks again. Great channel!
Really entertaining video.. the tip about Overheads is so vital. I've found over the years that everything you "own", ..owns you in a sense. If it's just there to impress and it's not really being used, ..then better that it should go. Took me a long time to find out what I need and turns out it's just a handful of plugins.. god knows I've tried them all at one point.
Great Watch! I am going to play this to my FE students today. I played them your film on trolling. I think its good to offer your experience to the younger generation. I sometimes wonder whether they have to live through it to understand it, but you never know..it might resonate with the odd one! After they have watched it. WE are going to sample an upright piano that has been treated with gaffer tape on the strings. It sounds great! I just want to thank you for your inspirational talks. Your passion and experience comes across so well. Great stuff. Cheers.
Keeping one's self hidden in the shadows for a decade is exactly what I've done. I try my best and give it my all. Something that I learnt from my old army cadet days. The only option I have left of success is to collaborate with school friend musicians such as the drummer for Tom Grennan to help me get my shit together, as our lives are worlds apart and come together only in pay to play sessions. Everyone has to earn a living, and this is the only way to keep going. The people that want something for nothing, are the one's who seldomly give back!
Hi from Australia Christian. I've been a musician in the music industry for twenty some years and the only thing I can do is just reinforce your point in regards to income streams. These days you have to wear the proverbial many hats to join the 2%. Some of mine include: Live gigs as a drummer, bass player. Sound Engineer Live Sound and Video Recording Home Studio Owner PA Hire Musical Instrument Retail Consultant .....it goes on. So do the shitty gigs, be the runner, record the singing teacher's album (who can't sing, and yes, it happened to me) do it all. Thanks for your content Christian! Andrew
Great video, Christian! I wish someone had given me that advice back then. I'd be curious to go back over your list and see what I did, didn't do or could have done when I left college.
Lovely countryside, I need to take more outside breaks, they seem to be helpful. That was some bloody good advice! As someone who hasn't been to composition school, but has contacts and been working on a few projects alright, and is busting his ass everyday to catch up on that lack of knowledge, I feel that I'm on the right track. Doesn't mean I will succeed but means I'm doing what I should!
I'd say that over time, people come to hire you for the things that you find easy - which might be your technical chops ion one particular piece of kit or software, ability to control the large scale or writing jaunty clarinet melodies - which others find hard. If you can make something enjoyable and easy then that is a major step forward
Fantastic video! Wish I’d been shown this when I left college all those years ago... (although my doushy 20something self probably got told something similar back then and ignored it...🤦♂️)
My primary income for years has been private guitar lessons and you just echoed one of the big lessons I always impress upon my students. "If you're looking at yourself a year ago thinking 'I was such an idiot' that's a positive. It means you're getting better."
Great Christian, wonderful video and really good tips. I am so out of breath watching it, I need to take care of myself now. Having not to worry about generating an income through music makes it all a lot easier. From my perspective I am at the stage of buying lots of (hardware) gear, as much as I can away from the computer. Being an ICT consultant, I really only want to use the computer for mixing and mastering (learning these skills bit by bit) 1) I focus on creating sound pallets I love and workflows that really work for me (hardware synths, analogue recording path, last step digital recording into computer). I've been buying lots of gear the last four years........ 2) I am at the level now that I can write about one electronic music track a month. I am not interested in labeling my style, whatever turns me on. But I use the 75% rule, when I am 75% or more happy with my track I stop working on it and create a master. This far I managed to (digitally) publish 3 EPs myself and 2 EPs collaborative with other artists. Great fun!!! Proper LP is in the make, my producer is working on the final mixes and masters at the moment for a release towards the end of this year. Of course I pay him. 3) Start working on a live setup. I always dreamed about going on stage surrounded by stacks of 19inch electronic flashing lights, dials, sliders and so on. I once saw Klaus Schulze in the Royal Festival hall live in London. Never forgot that concert, perfect. This year 2019 is all about creating a live set. I have two performances planned for after the summer (obviously costing more money ;-). 4) In the meantime build contacts and socialize with electronic music enthusiast, producers and so on here in the Netherlands. For electronic music there are a few events that are interesting and fun to attend. 5) Set myself a goal of a modest amount, from music related activities, to earn before the end of the year. I am talking here about a few hundred Euros. To see what happens. Obviously this is contrary to what I said earlier on, as I have a stable income, but it would be so much fun to also generate some income this way. 6) Start working on an online presence, not just manufacturers forums (that is where I met one of my collaborators). I think I will start with some tutorial videos (Digitone + Schrittmacher combination seems to be quite rare) 7) Create a sample library that I can use myself on the Akai S5000 and Prophet X and develop sample packs 8) Expand the monetary income goal for 2020 and raise the bar increasing the amount of income 9) Really have fun with all of these, learn at an exponentially fast rate (also keeps me young in spirit) and enjoy myself immensely. It helps that I have limited time, paradoxically. Working full time and approaching an age where I can start to see the end game focuses the mind. The above might not help ambitious viewers, as so far this approach has only costs me money, but currently this is my vision / view. Can I say I am successful? Yes, absolutely. Not in cash terms, but certainly in learning new skills, wonderful enjoyment and finally following a 40 year old passion and dream come true.....
I'm one of those, singer-songwriter types (as my girlfriend puts it...), but i still find these insights fascinating. Even though I gave up on making a living from my art/craft a long time ago, I still work hard to make the most success of it that I can. Sometimes I ask myself why....? Which I actually think would be a really interesting counterpoint video - a video about why we put ourselves through the hardship. For me it all comes from that moment when I get that thrill of coming up with a melody line which I know is good enough to build a song around. Everything after that is just trying to take things to actuation - so the moment seems "real". Or something..... :)
Even if I do not have an academic music background, I still see myself as a beginner, in the sphere of composition for media. Therefore, your 10 strategies are excellent for me, as well. For the Location one, I would say that starting locally works as well, for beginners, and speaking for myself, I have been successfully attending a local filmmaker group for about 6 months, now, and made a few friends. Diversification also is important, starting on my sampling project is proving to be a very educational experience for me, in terms of learning both how to record stuff and how to use the relevant, needed software (Kontakt and ProTools, in my case). Also, I have been producing music for libraries, in order to be able to have a future side income, and finally leave a day job I do not like anymore. I really need to sleep more, though...
I like to cooperate with other artists and I like the feel of sharing a group effort with an audience. I hope that many viewers of Christian´s channel are enjoying their time of making music. I only experienced minor "corporate crashes" and I am much happier now without any ties to a label. I work parttime as a murse and have enough free time to hone my skills so I don´t get the feel of being stuck in a dead end road. And I like to work on my vision of good music. Often times it´s a personality thing. I really dislike hectic and dominant people around me. That´s one major thing I´ve had to deal with when it came to commercial projects. Music was often times an afterthought/necessity. Nowadays I work with people who give me enough free space and confidence and I have a healthy life. if you don´t feel strong or confident enough this music industry playground is not for you. My advice would be to search people from other artistic fields (photography, painting, theatre) so both can benefit from each other. And I grow with them. They let me explore things and the project provide me with enough challenges and time constraints. Only thing is that I don´t earn much money with it. It doesn´t make my music worse nonetheless. To come to the conclusion that this admittedly unhealthy environment is not for you is also a success.
'... you can even be a bit shit' - Christian Henson 2019 I don't know why but it floored me. This must become a t-shirt! The true path to success. Soooo true. Never forget it's just 'a bit' so... be shit responsibly and be the best possible YOU. Jokes aside - another great video where you tell it like it is.
That tea story went places, just as I was thinking "oh yeah, a generic story about making tea". Teach me to make assumptions 5 seconds into a 10 second anecdote.
I'll stress that it's extremely hard to get even free work in the industry. I have a 6 month prepaid apprenticeship option from my insurance company, and I've gotten dozens of denials from studios, most saying that they just don't have the work to give. I'm in the sound engineering side of things and it's hard work to even get the apprenticeship.
Great video! I actually need some advise with pricing: I've been asked to compose music for a web series. aside of the compositions I will do all of the recording of the instruments and their basic mix, but someone else will take care of the sound effects, final mix and so on.. How much do you think is it custom to charge for such a gig? Thanks in advance! 🙏
Bet there's many here in my situation, where the day job has dwarfed the time they spend composing. (However i'm lucky, I do actually like my day job).
@Christian Henson Music Keith Williams of Five Watt World suggested i peruse your channel for Learning and Fun and Encouragement..... still slogging through each day for the Childhood Dream of "being" a musician..... a "professional musician", and songwriter/composer...... not a shred of support from family, and 3 REAL FRIENDS who've told me to keep doing this...... its a Dream...... i want to create the Reality of that Dream......! Thank You for sharing your insight and "wisdom gained from experience" !!!! i have two videos on my channel, geared towards Program Intro Themes or short credit roll..... would you be sport for critiquing them ????????
Really hope you end up with your own Producsion Company as well as every thing ells , dont abuse the Puppies , yes they are allowed on set , cut to the rushes . THANKS
Another great ep. I think I might disagree about something though Christian. Whilst it’s true that no plugin, sample library or piece of kit will make you a great producer/writer, I really do think that there is something to be said for having the “right” tool for the job, all ready to go. Example - Kepler really plugs a hole in the arsenal of orchestral mock up tools. It’s really hard - and time consuming - to program that kind of movement into mock ups. To have a library that just does this is brilliant. In my world, an ad pitch comes in and there’s no time to go off an create your own sample library to do what Kepler does. And it would be prohibitively expensive - Spitfire obviously aggregates the cost out across 10,000 units - to the point were you would be lucky get the budget to do it even if you got the gig. And a quartet of my mates isn’t going to sound the same or be doable in the time frame. In short, I think you have to be as prepared as you can afford to be and that means having the best tools that you can afford to buy. What’s that quote which is always attributed to Hans? “A car won’t buy you a keyboard but a can buy you a car...”
@@TheCrowHillCo Respect. I like your videos very much. As a hobby I will consider doing this. Would have been fantastic if I could make a living out of this.
Christian you are the truth!!!! I am founder of Mino Music, a South African music library and production publishing music. I am impressed that you are actually untangling this complex industry of ours. Check out our site www.minomusiclibrary.com
11. having some smaller goals can help to be successful or feel like it:D:D (besides world domination, Oscars and Nobel prize ^^ - I just can't quit those in the back of my head :P - and funny it would be too stressful to enjoy :P), I heard my music in a commercial cinema (Indie movie), TV (commercials) and I can support my family with music and sound design. But still whenever I'll have less time for my family or I can't do some music that just allows me to have fun with it (nice projects), than I get depressed and dream about the big goals, cool projects instead of doing something useful. Christian, is 8-10 hours six days a week enough to at least fell improvement (30 years old, started creating music very late, after 20) :D? I just can't see it being worth it to work more and not having the time for my kid and wife (it's okay to have some more demanding nights and more free time on other days). Sometimes it feels like there is too much to catch up. I would love to hear from other established/working composers (as in you'r other videos) how much time they had and have now for their families. I remember Danny Elfman saying something like "Are you sure? It would be more like a single mother", it made me sad somehow, it feels like it would not be a successful life to me even with all the great songs.
A great reason NOT to buy an orchestral sample library then and, I don’t know, sample hitting a radiator in your house to create something totally unique to you? That is the point of what I’m saying. Making YOUR sounds the centrepiece will guarantee one certain outcome: that no one else will have them. But also almost certainly inspire you to make music that other people aren’t making because of the unique harmonic series of the instruments you have made.
Re the Industry "standard" Daws Logic & Pro Tools. It is interesting to see what Presonus has added to Studio one 4.5 - 70+ features (free upgrade) many of which have been asked for by Logic and Pro Tools users. The consensus is not only have they added features from Logic and Pro Tools but have improved upon the functions. I get the feeling that Presonus with their hardware products are placing Studio One to go gunning for Logic and Pro Tools. Could they succeed, if they keep adding features and GUI improvements that out do Logic and Pro Tools, and the effort results in a reduction of time spent in DAWS, then yes they probably will. Time is money - once you have the composition and you can execute it faster in a DAW then the one constant we know for sure is change. If your time to you , Is worth savin'...
Going to take a lot to pass Logic. Apple has deep pockets, and they've been adding features, plug-ins and content to Logic at a blinding pace. Version 10.5 is just around the corner, and it looks like another major update. But, nice to see other companies out there competing. That keeps things moving forward.
Hi Christian,
I really appreciate you sharing knowledge (and also, I'm now discovering the wonderful world of Spitfire libraries too - so thanks again).
I made some notes on this video's topic, which might push someone in a slightly different direction (NOTE: I’m writing this from the perspective of someone who failed for years, but is now full time at this, and “doing well” - whatever that means. The stuff I write about below is unorthodox, but it has been a life changer for me:
About financial self support outside of media composition.
As a media composer, you already have some kind of recording set up. You can edit audio. You can record. A great side/main income is to create sound effects collections to sell online in one of the webstores (i.e. ASoundEffect.com).
If you have a decent mic (or handheld recorder), and can record and edit at 24-bit / 96kHz, you can go through the above website and see if there is anything you can add. So many resources online for this, and your sounds can end up on films, games, TV, etc… It is totally possible to make a nice monthly / weekly or even daily income from doing this and have your sound effects on a variety of websites. Don’t know what to record? Start with light switches or door handles. Record 50 of them. Edit them. Make them tight. Put them in a folder… and you now have a collection. Add art, spreadsheet, and a title for your collection… Lots of resources online about this.
Also, when you have a few collections online, you can start offering your services for music AND sound effects.
And, for the really crazy ones among us:
Self-produced visual media. Stop asking for jobs, and make your own.
Take the time to learn some form of visual (moving) media: short films, animated pieces, documentaries, etc… If you can’t do this, think about saving some cash and hiring someone who can.
Benefits: It forces you to network and make connections while composing for your own visuals. You can use this video as a calling card. It also greatly improves your understanding of composition by having a deeper understanding of all areas of production and the art and craft of storytelling.
At the very least, you will have something on the web to show people.
…or maybe you will sell your pilot or film to Netflix...
Other random notes, based on the above video:
Watch out for personal relationships: People will turn negative when they hear of your crazy goals. Good relationships can become toxic. People get jealous, worried, etc… The key is to ask yourself if this is really what you want, then focus on your aim like a laser beam.
(Having said that, always treat people well and be cool ;-)
Regarding the art and craft: It’s REALLY useful to look into all aspects of production and not get stuck in the film composer cage. Get some understanding of screenwriting, directing, formats, and anything else you can. It’s all useful and will help you understand and communicate with other creatives.
Lastly…one possible outcome from saying ‘yes’ to everything, is that you get to find out what kind of projects you are bad at.
P.S. And a question for Christian: I would love to hear your thoughts on why you moved to Scotland and what it’s actually like living there. Cheers!
I thank you wholeheartedly for sharing this...
THANKS FOR THIS! I've done sound design alongside music for a few games, but I've struggled to 'sell it as a core service' when there are so many talented sound designers out there working in games. Your tip on making libraries is a really good one - it'll give me a way to practice + build a portfolio.
That's funny. I've been heavily considering making my own movies for a long time now. Maybe I'm way too cocky for my own good but I feel like I'd be decent at it since I tend to criticize/dissect things I watch. Anyways, I suggest watching movie reviewers on youtube like Red Letter Media and Lessons at the Screenplay if you're something thinking of going this route. Viewing the film from the watcher's perspective really puts the music in context. Also, the more respect you have for film making, the more you'll understand and anticipate the editor/director's decisions when it comes to using your score. For example, if you actually have experience discarding entire sections of someone else's score, you'll realize how disposable your music actually is, which is an incredibly important perspective that can only be ingrained through experience.
Great post btw thanks for typing all that advice.
Thank you for the info, I might try that for Vocals
My biggest take from my early years -
When a director / producer / company shows some interest in working with you and they say "Great, send us some demos", never EVER actually send them what we may think of a demo. Send them a pretty-much fully realised, polished product.
The amount of jobs I lost in my early on from cobbling together a demo and thinking they'll be impressed by how quickly I've managed to turn it around is numbing. They're never impressed by speed, they just think you're a bit shit.
Great video mate!
1. Learn the rules to break them
2. Follow your heart
3. Don’t be greedy
4. Take care of your self
5. Balance what you and they want
6. Establish routine
7. Leave luck to the lazy
8. Separate production & performance
9. Practice practice practice
10. Step back and enjoy , meekly
11. ...and don't get puppies!
Exception to 11. After 3rd album/ work of art is complete, 11 shall be lifted
My 10 tips to start the machine running:
1) non-exclusive music libraries are a great way to start the machine churning and making regular income that builds over time. If you’re working a dayjob, aim to write 2 library cues each week in your composing time. They don’t need to be Mahler, they just need to be good underscore for cable TV shows.
2) Take that 1 excellent library cue and make a few varied submixes of it: piano only, textures + perc, Pulses & perc, strings only, etc - and turn that 1 cue into 5 cues that an editor will be able to use throughout a show as recurring themes that fit different pacings but have the same DNA. Do this with 2 cues and you have 10 cues per week added to your own library. Stick with this for 1 year and you will have 104 solid underscore cues but a total of 520 cue-suites. Library income will eventually fill in the lean times, but it's a numbers game. More cues = more placements.
3) That cue you really like that’s at 120 bpm? Try it at 90 bpm. Then 60bpm. You may have just turned 2 cues into enough thematic material for a 30-minute TV show. If your stuff is in a library and an editor likes it, he'll click on your name in that library interface and link to all your other stuff. The editor is your best friend: make it easy for him to find your cue suites that'll give his TV show more filmic/cinematic musical glue.
4) You’ll inevitably discover a stem in that cue that will be a cool surprise: that becomes the starter for the next cue you write.
4) You’re a business, so you need to have an Accounts Receivable calendar: what you can expect to receive each month from each of your outlets: library placements, PRO royalties, Spotify/Apple/iTunes income, any music-related income that occurs regularly.
5) Metadata metadata metadata. Make sure your PRO info (title, writer, all cuesheet data) is correct. Make sure your metadata is correct for all submissions to Spotify, Apple Music & all digital streaming services.
6) Scoring a TV show like a cable doc? Offer to do the music cuesheet for them when it’s done. This job usually falls onto a PA or someone who really doesn’t want to do it: ask if you can do it so you know your timings and titles are accurate, usage types are accurate, and you can put your correct writer and CAE/IPI number in each entry to ensure that you get your performance royalties.
7) If in the US, you absolutely must register at Harry Fox and Music Reports Inc and Soundexchange to be able to collect digital streaming royalties and streaming mechanicals (slightly diff process/entities outside the US). The metadata stuff is a pain in the butt, but suck it up and just do it: a day or two of Excel pain will yield a lifetime of accurate royalty streams.
8) Get Content ID, or AdRev or Tunesat or some digital fingerprinting technology to track unlicensed uses of your music on TH-cam and Vimeo. Pursue these for license fees. Monetize the little stuff that doesn’t matter. But the important thing is that it’s **your choice** because it’s **your music.** If a business is using your music, then they owe your business a license fee.
9) If you’re not licensing-savvy, find a music library that can house your catalog - while they’re licensing it out for various opportunities, if you find unlicensed uses - or if someone finds your music and wants to license it - you can point them to the library to execute the transaction. Then you don’t have to worry about doing your own contracts, which can be daunting if you don’t have a publishing background.
10) take a collection of your favorite works, make cool cover art for it that reflects the sound of the music, and release it on iTunes/Spotify and all the digital platforms. It’ll generate some money and increase your chances of someone - an editor, a director, a producer - tripping over it and wanting to hear more.
And be nice. Nice people are awesome.
True :)
As someone who works full time as a composer here are my tips along side with what Christian said:
1. As many have said look after yourself, give yourself a break. Maybe a day off a week so you don’t get into a burnout
2. Work a second job that you’d be able to maintain while growing as a composer, you still have to live. But don’t let it take over all your time. If you’re just starting out try giving yourself at least an hour a day in this, doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s learning or making sounds or just sequencing parts that you’re embarrassed to show. Every time you do it you get better.
3. Only buy objects that will help you earn money, whether it’s a synth or plugin - if you find ourself more creative with it and it will help you earn then go for it.
4. Don’t spend everything all at once, learn control and prioritizing what is needed first
5. To me, i’m more impressed if someone is able to create a brilliant mockup using stock sounds and plugins than someone who creates mediocre stuff with high end gear. Learn what you have and use it to it’s full potential, it’s about how you use things and not what you have.
6. It’s always about the picture and story, our services are to suit the media and help drive it. Don’t get in the way of dialog.
7. Learn other aspects of post production, broadcast standards, it all just makes you seem more professional and better to communicate to.
8. Learn to arrange and orchestrate well before you reach for an eq. Sometimes adding in a doubled piccolo with the violin sounds more soothing than an eq boost. Train and protect your ears.
9. Learn to mix, at the basics getting a good balance that feels good. I find most often in small productions /budgets the whole mix is taken and used as is. Make what you have as a 2 track (5.1 if you’re able to) the best it can be.
10. If you’re wanting to pursue library music, understand that every stem of the music should be able to stand up on it’s own without the other elements. That drum groove got boring after 4 bars on it’s own? Add variation, make every part interesting to listen to. A lot of times in reality tv just the stem tracks of a cue get used instead of the full mix so make them all count. This also applies to bumpers and stingers - give them options. Editors will love you.
Christian touched on production music here and and I do do recommend investigating it it thoroughly, especially if you're just starting out on your career because it's a proven long-term business strategy for composers. Production music isn't what it used to be; it's seriously high-end now. If you manage to get your feet under the table of one of the big players, the rewards can be quite astonishing, but it takes time to see the big money: Give it ten years and hundreds of tracks. It's likely that you will end up with many more hours of syncs just because the tracks are used over an over again, for years and years. Some of the biggest themes on TV are library tracks and if that happens, your mortgage payments will be covered for years! Then if a low-budget indie comes along which is a bit of a punt but looks unspeakably cool, you can do it just because you want to.
The landscape is changing though and who knows what the proliferation of royalty free libraries will ultimately do to us PRO composers. I have very mixed feelings about non-PRO and would be interested to know what everyone thinks about it.
Christian, is non-PRO music an interesting topic for a video? Is this a great way in for new composers, or are they selling themselves short?
As for us old hacks, is it going to erode the market share we currently enjoy and what should we do to protect ourselves? Do we even need to?
This is just my experience and my thoughts though. Happy to discuss!
I'd like to add something to this! Always be true to yourself and your morals. Always look after your mental health as well as your well being.
As someone who wanted to work in the studio industry, I quickly learnt that it wasn't for me, after taking an internship at a Studio and basically working as a cleaner and tea boy for free, for a month in London. This honestly destroyed my self-esteem and made me never want to work in that industry again. I am now still working in the music industry but on a different side of it and am doing great. But more importantly, I am happy and confident.
I just wanted to write this for all the young aspiring composers or sound engineers out there. To make it in this industry doesn't mean you have to throw all your principle out of the window. I think this industry has really started to take this piss, and force people into positions we shouldn't. Like making them clean studio's for free, even though they have a cleaner, or doing laundry or washing dishes. If you feel like you're being taken advantage of, I urge you to stop and try another avenue. Remember that above all else, your mental and physical health comes first.
Sincerely,
Anon
Christian, thanks for all the lovely videos you put out. And watching the new pup run around is just added joy !! 6 years ago, I left my well paying job in IT to pursue music as a full time career. Now I get to write music for films and it’s like a dream come true. So as person who has walked on/still walking this path, watching your videos and hearing you say stuff often brings a smile on my face, coz I know how true they are. I know you speak from your heart. Your advises are as sound as they can be. I don’t know how you manage to make all these videos in your schedule, but thank you for making them. Much Love!! Cheers ✌️😊
Hey Christian, could i get you some tea?
Seriously though, your passion about the things you speak of (this video or any other) is incredibly inspiring, and when ever I can't quite find the way in a song I'm working on, I'll watch a video or two by you and get right back in it.
And if you ever need someone to bring you tea, even if it's only for a day, I would step on a plane and fly right over, even if it meant hiding in a corner somewhere until you want a refill. Thanks for the videos, as always.
I love the new pup. A penchant for camera pushing!
Having these thought-a-logs are really good. I recently told one of your colleagues at the Kepler launch that your video on How to Program realistic strings is what reignited my passion for composing after about a 5 year hiatus of not composing anything and essentially, giving up.
I would say being proactive and ready to jump on something is key, not only saying yes to stuff but being willing and confident.
Importantly, do it for yourself if it makes you happy. And don’t give up.
Thanks Christian, listening to you share your thoughts through each video has helped me through a 'low' patch in my composer's journey. I'd suggest to any aspiring creative (composer, film maker, photographer, etc.):
- Remove distractions from your life: either on a personal level, or from a technology perspective (games consoles, unnecessary notifications and even TH-cam...)
- Keep focused: a lot of the people surrounding you may not understand what you are going through. Friends and family are a great support network but many will not emphasise with a atypical non-9-to-5 working life. So keep at it, even if people tell you to get a 'real job'.
- Love what you do: this is key to creating content that will stand the test of time.
- Don't give up: as Christian repeatedly states, outwork those around you. After a year out of studying, many people will have switched their goals in life. Make sure you are the one that is still making content, be that music, film, graphics or photography.
Absolutely bloody fantastic! Every young and aspiring musician should see this. I suddenly wish I was 20 years younger... But I’m not, and at the same time it’s never too late :D Thank you!
A fantastic list, and I agree with all points.
I would simply add that you should always try and remember your "true north" - the deep, purpose-based reason why you do this work. It can't be accolades or premieres or recognition or money, because these will forever fall short of most expectations. The only thing that will get you through the tough times and the crushing self-doubt and the years of struggle (FAR past the moment where you feel you "paid your dues") and the rejection is your LOVE of what you DO. The magic of discovering what music makes a scene truly sing, or getting "inside" the film, or an amazing conversation with a director that leaves you stupid with excitement to begin a new score. Everything else will fail you, but this must endure.
Your channel is such an asset. Thank you.
I so enjoy our walks. You have so much knowledge and experience to impart, and I appreciate that you are generous with it.
Hi Christian. Thank you for this. I’m substituting the references to composers and music business and using this as the best guidance for life I’ve heard in years. You’re a legend and an inspiration. Thanks.
Thank you for these advices. If it was easy, it would not be worth it. And these views around you are just beautiful, guess a good source for inspiration and to clear the mind.
This information is completely spot on accurate! I love your incite, the absolutely pure honesty spoken and your willingness to share the real bumps on the journey because those who travel the road of music know it’s full of holes. Saying No is a perfect sign that you have reached a greater plateau.
Brilliant! It all starts here; even if you've been 'doing it' for decades. Thanks, Christian.
Loved the Flood interlude!
Thank you Christian for your positive attribution everywhere!!!!
(Tip 6) Thank God I don't have a social life, then. Guaranteed success!
Joking aside, thanks for your insights! Always a pleasure to listen to you. :)
Great life lessons Christian! Important and true for whatever you’re trying to achieve in life.
It is not about the result, but it is all about the way/process to get to the result. Simply embrace it and enjoy it as much as you can. Life is too beautiful and too short to experience it with blinkers on.
Just stopped in the middle of a scoring session, first cue for my First feature film (72 mins) payed gig (kind of) and luckily i got hit by this new precious material. time to start saying no, Christian once again you work as a boost to keep it up.
And as a contribution and start of a debate line: LA, LONDON, BERLIN,NY (at some level) have you though about starting a discussion / research and de - mythifying of the actual networking hubs for media composition? i was born in Chile, by now i live in Berlin. i have known people? yes. i have a shitty ryanair to London's stanted for 30 euro, also yes. but what about other developing markets and media capitals? (Mexico: alfonso cuaron, alejandro gonzález iñiarritu, guillermo del toro) Argentina, Chile (pablo larrain (jackie-mica levi) Sebastian Lelio (a fantastic woman, Gloria Bell, Disobedience- Mathew Herbert)? the south american market it's full of emerging surprises...
Ok, im back to work. as always, these videos are the best breakfasts. big thanks!
Paulo Gallo great comments and very valid points! And well done on your first feature!
I sure could have used a few of these points a few years earlier. Ignore this advice at your peril. So good! Thanks!
one of your best videos yet
I'd like to add: Be a nice person to go have a beer with. Working with people in a creative field is not unlike having friendships. Creativity is hugely personal, and people are looking for creatives they can trust with getting that personal with. Who'd wanna show you their movie or game to work on if you're judgemental as all hell?
can not fully thank you in the depth I'd like to. Thank you, awesome vid! Have a great day!
Inspirational as ever Christian- Thanks
9:02 - Is really all you really need, along with your ears and imagination.
As for top ten list, I think four will do (with an aside)
1 - Focus on meeting people and networking, then keep doing it.
2 - Make everything you produce sound very very good.
2 - The size of your plugin folder doesn't matter.
(I'm one of the older seasoned professionals (bassist) starting over (again) and I am in the same place any fresh graduate is starting from - and the game is just as fresh and exciting as it was when I was a teenager)
4 - Build character, identity, personality with your work, however you call it, what makes you, you.
Total newbie here, but these are just 10 quick things for myself that I’ll share. I’m sure these will change a lot!
1) Above all else don’t sacrifice the joy of creation for the “idea” of success. It’s better to never “make it” but have gotten huge amounts of joy from music in life
2) Don’t chase someone else’s sound or aesthetic, it has already been done, even if that means a modicum of short term success
3) RE point 1, include my loved ones. Everything is transient and time is fleeting. I would rather have fond memories of my kids playing at the park, rather than pleasing someone by addressing cue notes
4) No matter what, always be humble about what you’ve done and your perceived status by others
5) Always speak about people as if they were standing behind you, no matter how annoyed you are at them
6) Never be Snobby and don’t assume your opinion is wanted
7) Be a vehicle to help other people realise their dreams
8) Being reliable and trustworthy to deliver is always better than making the best sounding music
9) Care about other people’s projects and helping their journey, not just the part you see yourself playing, if there’s a gap you can fill, put your hand up
10) In opposition to 9, don’t overcommit or dilute your offering. Protect your brand!
Also.. it’s all been done before, so don’t second guess everything for fear of reinventing the wheel or copying someone, we are after all, all the product of our influences....enjoy your gift and try to always have fun!
Love this SO much! I can’t thank you enough for always answering the real questions we have with such sobering answers. It’s extremely important to keep the main things the main things and to really see before you what it will cost to accomplish something in media composition, as in life.
On another note, Christian I’m gonna be in your area (Livingston, right outside of Edinburgh) all next week and would love to buy you a pint and chat about life. I know you’re crazy busy but hit me up if you can. Thanks again for all that you do!
Tip: maybe not spend 70k a year at berklee
If you've got to borrow money to do it I would say not... If your parents have the means then by all means.
@@TheCrowHillCo thanks Christian guess I'm heading home lmao ps ur channel has taught me so much man thanks dude
Berklee will give you the connections you wouldn’t have a chance finding on your own. Majority get the dream job far before they graduate. A large amount don’t even finish.
As always, really useful advice.. In our own personal journey that just seems to be finding its way, there were many times when your words came to mind, and I remember commenting in the past that even if we are not on the exact same point of interest, your videos always feature hints that are more that helpful within a wider spectrum of arts and media industry, even beyond these! So, thanks once more Christian :)
Can't thank you enough for this advice and for initiating some great discussions in the comments. I think I might listen to this every morning as a sort of affirmation. Truly inspiring. You really should do radio...podcasts? Maybe you already do, I salute you sir, thanks again. Great channel!
I really like listening to these. All good advice.
Really entertaining video.. the tip about Overheads is so vital. I've found over the years that everything you "own", ..owns you in a sense. If it's just there to impress and it's not really being used, ..then better that it should go. Took me a long time to find out what I need and turns out it's just a handful of plugins.. god knows I've tried them all at one point.
Perfect timing for this video - particularly did me good to hear ;)
Great Watch! I am going to play this to my FE students today. I played them your film on trolling. I think its good to offer your experience to the younger generation. I sometimes wonder whether they have to live through it to understand it, but you never know..it might resonate with the odd one! After they have watched it. WE are going to sample an upright piano that has been treated with gaffer tape on the strings. It sounds great! I just want to thank you for your inspirational talks. Your passion and experience comes across so well. Great stuff. Cheers.
Keeping one's self hidden in the shadows for a decade is exactly what I've done. I try my best and give it my all. Something that I learnt from my old army cadet days. The only option I have left of success is to collaborate with school friend musicians such as the drummer for Tom Grennan to help me get my shit together, as our lives are worlds apart and come together only in pay to play sessions. Everyone has to earn a living, and this is the only way to keep going. The people that want something for nothing, are the one's who seldomly give back!
Brilliant! Thanks Christian! I recently purchased Hanz Zimmer Drums from Spitfire and I absolutely love it!
Hi from Australia Christian.
I've been a musician in the music industry for twenty some years and the only thing I can do is just reinforce your point in regards to income streams. These days you have to wear the proverbial many hats to join the 2%.
Some of mine include:
Live gigs as a drummer, bass player.
Sound Engineer
Live Sound and Video Recording
Home Studio Owner
PA Hire
Musical Instrument Retail Consultant
.....it goes on.
So do the shitty gigs, be the runner, record the singing teacher's album (who can't sing, and yes, it happened to me) do it all.
Thanks for your content Christian!
Andrew
Great video, Christian! I wish someone had given me that advice back then. I'd be curious to go back over your list and see what I did, didn't do or could have done when I left college.
Lovely countryside, I need to take more outside breaks, they seem to be helpful. That was some bloody good advice! As someone who hasn't been to composition school, but has contacts and been working on a few projects alright, and is busting his ass everyday to catch up on that lack of knowledge, I feel that I'm on the right track. Doesn't mean I will succeed but means I'm doing what I should!
Really interesting video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I believe many of these things will be quite useful for most people.
This is fantastic advice! Thank you so much, Christian!
I think I'm going to watch this every Sunday morning.
You are the man. Im going to save this in a playlist.
I'd say that over time, people come to hire you for the things that you find easy - which might be your technical chops ion one particular piece of kit or software, ability to control the large scale or writing jaunty clarinet melodies - which others find hard. If you can make something enjoyable and easy then that is a major step forward
Another cracking video Christian Henson Music. So much valuable info here.
There were so many cuts in this; it might as well have been a modern-day action movie 😂
Thank you very much for sharing your experience
Fantastic video! Wish I’d been shown this when I left college all those years ago... (although my doushy 20something self probably got told something similar back then and ignored it...🤦♂️)
Completely agree.Walks are one of the best things to do to get ideeas.Long walks.
Love the dogs! Love these videos!
Great video!!!!!! Applicable to many kind of jobs too! :)
pertinent et instructif, comme d'habitude 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿
My primary income for years has been private guitar lessons and you just echoed one of the big lessons I always impress upon my students. "If you're looking at yourself a year ago thinking 'I was such an idiot' that's a positive. It means you're getting better."
Great video, thank you Christian
What a fantastic informative video... Christian, can i come and make your tea???? I'm moving up to Edinburgh this year.
I wish I’d had this (plus the modern internet, and computing power) when I graduated in 1999.
Great Christian, wonderful video and really good tips. I am so out of breath watching it, I need to take care of myself now.
Having not to worry about generating an income through music makes it all a lot easier. From my perspective I am at the stage of buying lots of (hardware) gear, as much as I can away from the computer. Being an ICT consultant, I really only want to use the computer for mixing and mastering (learning these skills bit by bit)
1) I focus on creating sound pallets I love and workflows that really work for me (hardware synths, analogue recording path, last step digital recording into computer). I've been buying lots of gear the last four years........
2) I am at the level now that I can write about one electronic music track a month. I am not interested in labeling my style, whatever turns me on. But I use the 75% rule, when I am 75% or more happy with my track I stop working on it and create a master. This far I managed to (digitally) publish 3 EPs myself and 2 EPs collaborative with other artists. Great fun!!! Proper LP is in the make, my producer is working on the final mixes and masters at the moment for a release towards the end of this year. Of course I pay him.
3) Start working on a live setup. I always dreamed about going on stage surrounded by stacks of 19inch electronic flashing lights, dials, sliders and so on. I once saw Klaus Schulze in the Royal Festival hall live in London. Never forgot that concert, perfect. This year 2019 is all about creating a live set. I have two performances planned for after the summer (obviously costing more money ;-).
4) In the meantime build contacts and socialize with electronic music enthusiast, producers and so on here in the Netherlands. For electronic music there are a few events that are interesting and fun to attend.
5) Set myself a goal of a modest amount, from music related activities, to earn before the end of the year. I am talking here about a few hundred Euros. To see what happens. Obviously this is contrary to what I said earlier on, as I have a stable income, but it would be so much fun to also generate some income this way.
6) Start working on an online presence, not just manufacturers forums (that is where I met one of my collaborators). I think I will start with some tutorial videos (Digitone + Schrittmacher combination seems to be quite rare)
7) Create a sample library that I can use myself on the Akai S5000 and Prophet X and develop sample packs
8) Expand the monetary income goal for 2020 and raise the bar increasing the amount of income
9) Really have fun with all of these, learn at an exponentially fast rate (also keeps me young in spirit) and enjoy myself immensely. It helps that I have limited time, paradoxically. Working full time and approaching an age where I can start to see the end game focuses the mind.
The above might not help ambitious viewers, as so far this approach has only costs me money, but currently this is my vision / view. Can I say I am successful? Yes, absolutely. Not in cash terms, but certainly in learning new skills, wonderful enjoyment and finally following a 40 year old passion and dream come true.....
I'm one of those, singer-songwriter types (as my girlfriend puts it...), but i still find these insights fascinating. Even though I gave up on making a living from my art/craft a long time ago, I still work hard to make the most success of it that I can. Sometimes I ask myself why....? Which I actually think would be a really interesting counterpoint video - a video about why we put ourselves through the hardship. For me it all comes from that moment when I get that thrill of coming up with a melody line which I know is good enough to build a song around. Everything after that is just trying to take things to actuation - so the moment seems "real". Or something..... :)
thank you for the info and well done
Even if I do not have an academic music background, I still see myself as a beginner, in the sphere of composition for media. Therefore, your 10 strategies are excellent for me, as well.
For the Location one, I would say that starting locally works as well, for beginners, and speaking for myself, I have been successfully attending a local filmmaker group for about 6 months, now, and made a few friends.
Diversification also is important, starting on my sampling project is proving to be a very educational experience for me, in terms of learning both how to record stuff and how to use the relevant, needed software (Kontakt and ProTools, in my case). Also, I have been producing music for libraries, in order to be able to have a future side income, and finally leave a day job I do not like anymore. I really need to sleep more, though...
very refreshing thanks
I like to cooperate with other artists and I like the feel of sharing a group effort with an audience.
I hope that many viewers of Christian´s channel are enjoying their time of making music.
I only experienced minor "corporate crashes" and I am much happier now without any ties to a label.
I work parttime as a murse and have enough free time to hone my skills so I don´t get the feel of being stuck in a dead end road. And I like to work on my vision of good music.
Often times it´s a personality thing. I really dislike hectic and dominant people around me. That´s one major thing I´ve had to deal with when it came to commercial projects. Music was often times an afterthought/necessity.
Nowadays I work with people who give me enough free space and confidence and I have a healthy life.
if you don´t feel strong or confident enough this music industry playground is not for you.
My advice would be to search people from other artistic fields (photography, painting, theatre) so both can benefit from each other. And I grow with them. They let me explore things and the project provide me with enough challenges and time constraints.
Only thing is that I don´t earn much money with it. It doesn´t make my music worse nonetheless. To come to the conclusion that this admittedly unhealthy environment is not for you is also a success.
Thank you christian and to the pinned comment by SmithComposition. Everything you've said reassures me I'm on the right path.
Just let me say thank you for these words, Christian.
In my opinion self-esteem is strategy point one till ten haha
'... you can even be a bit shit' - Christian Henson 2019
I don't know why but it floored me. This must become a t-shirt!
The true path to success. Soooo true. Never forget it's just 'a bit' so... be shit responsibly and be the best possible YOU.
Jokes aside - another great video where you tell it like it is.
That tea story went places, just as I was thinking "oh yeah, a generic story about making tea". Teach me to make assumptions 5 seconds into a 10 second anecdote.
Brilliant!
Spot On!
This is great advice. Thank you. And those dogs... :D
Just 2:00 into it and I already have 2 of my favourite quotes. Hang on CH, I need to take out my notebook!
To be fair the 'Going For Gold' theme is a jam....
Just here to read the comments and stay meek and taciturn~
Thank you so much for the video, Christian! ^_^
And for non-english speakers, to learn English.
Excellent content, as always. Alas, this makes me just want to get a naughty puppy which knocks over your camera to provide comedy moments :O)
Great tips!
I'll stress that it's extremely hard to get even free work in the industry. I have a 6 month prepaid apprenticeship option from my insurance company, and I've gotten dozens of denials from studios, most saying that they just don't have the work to give. I'm in the sound engineering side of things and it's hard work to even get the apprenticeship.
Great video!
I actually need some advise with pricing:
I've been asked to compose music for a web series. aside of the compositions I will do all of the recording of the instruments and their basic mix, but someone else will take care of the sound effects, final mix and so on..
How much do you think is it custom to charge for such a gig?
Thanks in advance! 🙏
Bet there's many here in my situation, where the day job has dwarfed the time they spend composing. (However i'm lucky, I do actually like my day job).
All dynamite advice. Many thanks.
Lissen stay fit walk down the river the shops get in to Nature the swing park with the KIDS KIDS inspirational .
That puppy is so fvking cute.
@Christian Henson Music
Keith Williams of Five Watt World suggested i peruse your channel for Learning and Fun and Encouragement.....
still slogging through each day for the Childhood Dream of "being" a musician..... a "professional musician", and songwriter/composer...... not a shred of support from family, and 3 REAL FRIENDS who've told me to keep doing this......
its a Dream...... i want to create the Reality of that Dream......!
Thank You for sharing your insight and "wisdom gained from experience" !!!!
i have two videos on my channel, geared towards Program Intro Themes or short credit roll..... would you be sport for critiquing them ????????
You are profound Christian, and I thank you.
Doggy is so cute!
Jay-Z went to berklee Boston if i'm not mistaken. But this doesn't cancel the true meaning of what you say Christian, which is totally true
'You can actually be a bit shit...' That's a relief :D
Really hope you end up with your own Producsion Company as well as every thing ells , dont abuse the Puppies , yes they are allowed on set , cut to the rushes . THANKS
Another great ep.
I think I might disagree about something though Christian. Whilst it’s true that no plugin, sample library or piece of kit will make you a great producer/writer, I really do think that there is something to be said for having the “right” tool for the job, all ready to go. Example - Kepler really plugs a hole in the arsenal of orchestral mock up tools. It’s really hard - and time consuming - to program that kind of movement into mock ups. To have a library that just does this is brilliant. In my world, an ad pitch comes in and there’s no time to go off an create your own sample library to do what Kepler does. And it would be prohibitively expensive - Spitfire obviously aggregates the cost out across 10,000 units - to the point were you would be lucky get the budget to do it even if you got the gig. And a quartet of my mates isn’t going to sound the same or be doable in the time frame.
In short, I think you have to be as prepared as you can afford to be and that means having the best tools that you can afford to buy.
What’s that quote which is always attributed to Hans? “A car won’t buy you a keyboard but a can buy you a car...”
what I learned from this video: give your puppy some attention or it will go for the camera 13:30
Horrid little bastard.
I was planning to invest in a lot of libraries. With this set of advice, I realize that I have no change. Not worth spending a penny.
I'll need to add the "except Spitfire" exclusion.
@@TheCrowHillCo Respect. I like your videos very much. As a hobby I will consider doing this. Would have been fantastic if I could make a living out of this.
Say yes to absolutely everything until you are able say no. 💰💸💰🧠
Christian you are the truth!!!! I am founder of Mino Music, a South African music library and production publishing music. I am impressed that you are actually untangling this complex industry of ours. Check out our site www.minomusiclibrary.com
11. having some smaller goals can help to be successful or feel like it:D:D (besides world domination, Oscars and Nobel prize ^^ - I just can't quit those in the back of my head :P - and funny it would be too stressful to enjoy :P), I heard my music in a commercial cinema (Indie movie), TV (commercials) and I can support my family with music and sound design. But still whenever I'll have less time for my family or I can't do some music that just allows me to have fun with it (nice projects), than I get depressed and dream about the big goals, cool projects instead of doing something useful.
Christian, is 8-10 hours six days a week enough to at least fell improvement (30 years old, started creating music very late, after 20) :D? I just can't see it being worth it to work more and not having the time for my kid and wife (it's okay to have some more demanding nights and more free time on other days). Sometimes it feels like there is too much to catch up.
I would love to hear from other established/working composers (as in you'r other videos) how much time they had and have now for their families. I remember Danny Elfman saying something like "Are you sure? It would be more like a single mother", it made me sad somehow, it feels like it would not be a successful life to me even with all the great songs.
''Make a sample library'' well sadly i don't have access to a full orchestra in a great hall, nor the knowledge to program the samples so... yeh
A great reason NOT to buy an orchestral sample library then and, I don’t know, sample hitting a radiator in your house to create something totally unique to you? That is the point of what I’m saying. Making YOUR sounds the centrepiece will guarantee one certain outcome: that no one else will have them. But also almost certainly inspire you to make music that other people aren’t making because of the unique harmonic series of the instruments you have made.
.... oh and making samples is really not that difficult! It’s just takes a bit of time and experimentation.
Re the Industry "standard" Daws Logic & Pro Tools. It is interesting to see what Presonus has added to Studio one 4.5 - 70+ features (free upgrade) many of which have been asked for by Logic and Pro Tools users. The consensus is not only have they added features from Logic and Pro Tools but have improved upon the functions. I get the feeling that Presonus with their hardware products are placing Studio One to go gunning for Logic and Pro Tools. Could they succeed, if they keep adding features and GUI improvements that out do Logic and Pro Tools, and the effort results in a reduction of time spent in DAWS, then yes they probably will. Time is money - once you have the composition and you can execute it faster in a DAW then the one constant we know for sure is change.
If your time to you
, Is worth savin'...
Going to take a lot to pass Logic. Apple has deep pockets, and they've been adding features, plug-ins and content to Logic at a blinding pace. Version 10.5 is just around the corner, and it looks like another major update. But, nice to see other companies out there competing. That keeps things moving forward.
I'll take note to stop my "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" and I'll go get a little monster of a puppy like Christian's instead.
_Owns a company making sample libraries, tells people not to buy sample libraries..._
He said, referring to sample libraries, "learn how to make one". Like him.